International Youth Day 2022: History, theme, significance and all you need to know
Half of the world’s population is currently under the age of 30, and this number is projected to rise to 57 per cent by the end of 2030, according to a United Nations research.
AREWA AGENDA – International Youth Day is celebrated every year on August 12. The day was recognised and endorsed by the UN in 1999. Several educational workshops are organised on the day.
This day highlights the pivotal role that young people, including men and women, play in bringing about the change necessary to address global concerns and promote sustainable development. It offers a chance to spread awareness of the difficulties and issues that young people around the world face are facing today. Workshops, concerts, conferences, cultural events, seminars, and meetings with representatives of national and local governments and youth organisations take place all around the world on International Youth Day. The day also motivates the youth to take appropriate steps in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Half of the world’s population is currently under the age of 30, and this number is projected to rise to 57 per cent by the end of 2030, according to a United Nations research. The day raises awareness about several obstacles to intergenerational cooperation, including ageism, which affects both young and elderly people and has a negative influence on society as a whole.
History
The United Nations General Assembly declared 1985 the ‘International Youth Year: Participation, Development, and Peace’ in resolution 34/151 passed in 1979. A decade later, in 1991, the young people attending the first World Youth Forum of the United Nations System in Vienna, Austria, came up with the idea for International Youth Day. The World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth’s inaugural session in 1998 resulted in the adoption of a resolution designating August 12 as International Youth Day. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) eventually recognised the day in 1999.
Theme
The theme for International Youth Day 2022 is ‘Intergenerational solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages’. The theme was chosen since the United Nations’ Global Report on Ageism, released in March 2021, noted that young people continue to report age-related impediments in multiple stages of their lives, such as work, political involvement, healthcare and even justice. As per UN findings, ageism also has an effect on people that hinders them from recognising their own potential.
Significance
International Youth Day places a special focus on young people’s rights to unrestricted access to public life, education, work, healthcare and financial services. Additionally, it acknowledges and honours the accomplishments of young activists and volunteers who work to promote peace and prosperity not only in their own communities but also on a worldwide scale.
Source: News Nine
